However, BJP General Secretary Arun Singh, who is coordinating the yatra’s course from the party headquarters, gave an alibi of “bad weather” for canceling Shah’s programme.
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Overseen by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister’s Office, the yatra was led by a monk, Dhamma Viriyo, who had been associated with Ram Vilas Paswan and Lalu Prasad in the past and had since moved to the BJP. According to BJP officials, Shah cancelled his visit because of opposition from Dalits and Bahujan Samaj Party workers to the party’s involvement with the yatra. Reports have suggested that the party feared a backlash and chose to cancel Shah’s visit.
The state party leaders are upset as Shah’s appearance for the first time in the Yatra was billed as a major event in the party’s UP calendar. It is likely to conclude in Lucknow in October.
Various Dalit groups and BSP workers have opposed any participation to Viriyo’s campaign, known as Dhamma Chetna Yatra, citing the growing atrocities against Dalits by supporters of BJP and its affiliate Hindutva organisations. They are opposing the yatra because a religion, Buddhism, is being used for a political objective. He also noted how similar outreach events of the party in Aligarh and Hathras to seek Dalit support were stalled by the BSP protesters by threatening the Buddhist monks.
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The venue was the Kotha Meena Bazar ground where political rallies are usually held. Former Union minister and Dalit face of the party in the state Prof Ramshanker Katheria, however, said because of heavy rains labourers stopped work and poles for tents could not be erected for the programme, hence national BJP chief’s programme was cancelled. “But the hall of Saraswati Shishu Mandir can accommodate only a small crowd and that will not suit the party’s national president”. BJP has asked district presidents on the yatra route to welcome Viriyo, arrange for the stay of monks and others, and ensure their safe movement.
